Illini add new offensive line coach

CHAMPAIGN — Illinois has hired former Maryland offensive line coach Tom Brattan to fill the same role for the Illini.

Brattan replaces A.J. Ricker who left earlier this month to coach the offensive line at Missouri.

Illinois head coach Tim Beckman said in a news release Thursday that he was happy to find Brattan in light of the late date of Ricker's departure. Beckman called Brattan a respected coach and recruiter with ties to the Chicago area.

Brattan has coached in college for 31 years and worked at Maryland the past 13 seasons. He has also coached at Sanford and Northwestern.

He played college football at Delaware and was part of the 1971 Division II national championship team.

Brattan is the fourth offensive line coach in Beckman's two-plus years at Illinois.